Pepper hybrid DR2179PB and parents thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid DR2179PB and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid DR2179PB and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Appl. Ser. No.62/361,353, filed Jul. 12, 2016, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of pepper hybrid DR2179PB and theinbred pepper lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a pepper plant of thehybrid designated DR2179PB, the pepper line SBYXD11-0002, or pepper lineSBYXD12-0029. Also provided are pepper plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of such a plant. Partsof these pepper plants are also provided, for example, including pollen,an ovule, scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid DR2179PBand/or pepper lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029 comprising an addedheritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise a geneticlocus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In oneembodiment of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid DR2179PB and/orpepper lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029 is defined as comprising asingle locus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, anadded genetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the trait may beconferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of aline by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgeneintroduced through genetic transformation techniques into the plant or aprogenitor of any previous generation thereof. When introduced throughtransformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genesintegrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of pepper hybrid DR2179PB and/orpepper lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029. The pepper seed of theinvention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population ofpepper seed of pepper hybrid DR2179PB and/or pepper lines SBYXD11-0002and SBYXD12-0029. Essentially homogeneous populations of seed aregenerally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, seedof hybrid DR2179PB and/or pepper lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029 maybe defined as forming at least about 97% of the total seed, including atleast about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seed population may beseparately grown to provide an essentially homogeneous population ofpepper plants designated DR2179PB and/or pepper lines SBYXD11-0002 andSBYXD12-0029.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a pepper plant of hybrid DR2179PB and/or pepper linesSBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029 is provided. The tissue culture willpreferably be capable of regenerating pepper plants capable ofexpressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe starting plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially thesame genotype as the starting plant. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid DR2179PBand/or pepper lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029 include those traitsset forth in the tables herein. The regenerable cells in such tissuecultures may be derived, for example, from embryos, meristems,cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers,seed and stalks. Still further, the present invention provides pepperplants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention, the plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybridDR2179PB and/or pepper lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing pepper seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent pepper plant with a second parentpepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent pepperplants is a plant of pepper line SBYXD11-0002 or pepper lineSBYXD12-0029. These processes may be further exemplified as processesfor preparing hybrid pepper seed or plants, wherein a first pepper plantis crossed with a second pepper plant of a different, distinct genotypeto provide a hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant of pepperline SBYXD11-0002 or pepper line SBYXD12-0029. In these processes,crossing will result in the production of seed. The seed productionoccurs regardless of whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent pepper plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent pepper plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent pepper plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent pepper plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a pepper plant or hybrid pepperplant.

The present invention also provides the pepper seeds and plants producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent pepper plant with asecond parent pepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent pepper plants is a plant of pepper hybrid DR2179PB and/or pepperlines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029. In one embodiment of the invention,pepper seed and plants produced by the process are first generation (F₁)hybrid pepper seed and plants produced by crossing a plant in accordancewith the invention with another, distinct plant. The present inventionfurther contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybrid pepper plant, andmethods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplary embodiments of theinvention provide an F₁ hybrid pepper plant and seed thereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid DR2179PB and/or pepper linesSBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029, the method comprising the steps of: (a)preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid DR2179PB and/or pepperlines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029, wherein said preparing comprisescrossing a plant of the hybrid DR2179PB and/or pepper lines SBYXD11-0002and SBYXD12-0029 with a second plant; and (b) crossing the progeny plantwith itself or a second plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of asubsequent generation. In further embodiments, the method mayadditionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generationand crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself ora second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional 3-10generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid DR2179PB and/orpepper lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029. The plant derived fromhybrid DR2179PB and/or pepper lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029 may bean inbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing steps may bedefined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line.In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plants resultingfrom step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). Byselecting plants having one or more desirable traits, a plant derivedfrom hybrid DR2179PB and/or pepper lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029is obtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of theline/hybrid as well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of pepperhybrid DR2179PB and/or pepper lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting atleast one pepper from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofpepper hybrid DR2179PB and/or pepper lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used to refer to theaggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of which sequencesdefines the phenotype of, in the present case, a pepper plant, or a cellor tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus represents thegenetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid geneticcomplement represents the genetic make-up of a hybrid cell, tissue orplant. The invention thus provides pepper plant cells that have agenetic complement in accordance with the pepper plant cells disclosedherein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid DR2179PB and/or pepper lines SBYXD11-0002and SBYXD12-0029 could be identified by any of the many well-knowntechniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by pepper plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a pepper plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second pepper plant, preferably, another, distinctpepper plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a pepperplant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid geneticcomplement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds, and derivatives of pepper hybrid DR2179PB, pepper lineSBYXD11-0002, and pepper line SBYXD12-0029.

Pepper hybrid DR2179PB, also known as “DR2179PB SAN SIRO” and“14-XD-BLK-2616,” is a yellow blocky hybrid for the market in theprotected glasshouse segment in the Netherlands, Canada, and the UK. Thehybrid is very early in terms of first harvest dates, shows a highyield, and sets fruits easily. The crop itself is very balanced and easyto grow with a very low labor input. Immature fruits are medium green,coloring to yellow, and average 9.5 cm long by 8.12 cm wide at theshoulder, with a square shape. The hybrid is resistant to Tobamoviruspathotypes P1, 2, and 3.

Parent line SBYXD11-0002 is an inbred variety that comprises resistanceto Tobamovirus pathotypes P1, 2, and 3 and produces green immaturefruits which mature to yellow.

Parent line SBYXD12-0029 is an inbred variety that produces greenimmature fruits which mature to yellow.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Pepper Hybrid DR2179PB

The parents of hybrid DR2179PB are SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029. Theparent lines are uniform and stable, as is a hybrid produced therefrom.A small percentage of variants can occur within commercially acceptablelimits for almost any characteristic during the course of repeatedmultiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Pepper HybridDR2179PB, Pepper Line SBYXD11-0002, and Pepper Line SBYXD12-0029

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of pepper hybrid DR2179PB and the parent lines thereof.A description of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofsuch plants is presented in Tables 1-3.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of HybridDR2179PB CHARACTERISTIC DR2179PB Bentley 1. Species C. annuum C. annuum2. Maturity (in region of best adaptability) days from transplantinguntil 88 82 mature green stage days from transplanting until 109 108mature red or yellow stage days from direct seeding until 107 101 maturegreen stage days from direct seeding until 128 127 mature red or yellowstage beginning of flowering (first flower early early on secondflowering node) time of maturity medium medium 3. Plant plant height156.3 cm 123.6 cm plant width 37.3 cm 39.6 cm length of stem fromcotyledon to 27.0 cm 27.7 cm first flower length of the third internode(from 112.0 mm 111.3 mm soil surface) length of stem long long shortenedinternode (upper part) absent absent length of internode (primary sidemedium medium shoots) stem, hairiness of nodes weak absent or very weakheight medium short basal branches none none branch flexibility willowywillowy stem strength (breakage resistance) intermediate intermediate 4.Leaf length of blade long long width 120.7 mm 120.3 mm length 240.7 mm231.8 mm petiole length 73.2 mm 77.2 mm color dark green dark greencolor (RHS Colour Chart value) N137a N137a intensity of green color darkto very dark dark to very dark mature leaf shape ovate ovate leaf andstem pubescence light light undulation of margin very weak mediumblistering weak very weak profile in cross section moderately convexmoderately concave glossiness very strong strong 5. Flower peduncleattitude erect/semi-drooping erect/semi-drooping flowers per leaf axil 11 calyx lobes 10.0 8.0 petals 7.0 6.0 diameter 26.6 mm 28.7 mm corollacolor white white corolla throat markings yellow yellow anther colorpurple purple style length same as stamen same as stamenself-incompatibility absent absent 6. Fruit group Bell Bell (Yolo WonderL.) (Yolo Wonder L.) color (before maturity) green green intensity ofcolor (before maturity) medium to dark dark immature fruit color mediumgreen dark green immature fruit color (RHS Colour 141a 141a Chart value)attitude/position drooping/pendent drooping/pendent length short shortdiameter medium broad ratio length/diameter medium medium calyx diameter36.0 mm 33.9 mm fruit length 94.5 mm 96.6 mm fruit diameter at calyxattachment 81.2 mm 82.9 mm fruit diameter at mid-point 78.8 mm 82.7 mmflesh thickness at mid-point 7.9 mm 8.2 mm average number of fruits perplant 7.4 7.3 % large fruits 0.0% (weight range: 86.7% (weight >360 g)range: >360 g) % medium fruits 100.0% (weight 13.3% (weight range:250-360 g) range: 250-360 g) % small fruits 0.0% (weight range: 0.0%(weight range: <250 g) <250 g) average fruit weight 228.2 g 277.6 gfruit shape (longitudinal section) square square fruit shape (crosssection, at level of quadrangular quadrangular placenta) sinuation ofpericarp at basal part weak weak sinuation of pericarp excluding weakweak basal part texture of surface smooth or very smooth or veryslightly wrinkled slightly wrinkled surface smoothness smooth smoothcolor (at maturity) yellow yellow intensity of color (at maturity)medium to dark medium to dark mature fruit color orange-yelloworange-yellow mature fruit color (RHS Colour 14a 14a Chart value)glossiness medium to strong medium to strong stalk cavity presentpresent depth of stalk cavity medium medium pedicel length 75.9 mm 63.4mm pedicel thickness 10.9 mm 12.0 mm pedicel shape curved curved pedicelcavity present present depth of pedicel cavity 13.4 mm 17.3 mm stalklength long long stalk thickness medium medium base shape cupped cuppedapex shape blunt blunt shape of apex moderately moderately depresseddepressed shape Bell (Yolo Wonder Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) L.) setconcentrated concentrated depth of interloculary grooves shallow tomedium shallow to medium number of locules predominantly threepredominantly four and more % fruits with one locule 0.0% 0.0% % fruitswith two locules 0.0% 0.0% % fruits with three locules 73.3% 0.0% %fruits with four locules 26.7% 86.7% % fruits with five or more locules0.0% 13.3% average number of locules 3.3 4.1 thickness of flesh thinthin calyx aspect non- non- enveloping/saucer enveloping/saucer- shapedshaped pungency sweet sweet capsaicin in placenta absent absent flavormild pepper flavor mild pepper flavor glossiness shiny shiny 7. Seedseed cavity length 68.8 mm 74.3 mm seed cavity diameter 63.7 mm 69.6 mmplacenta length 20.8 mm 24.0 mm number of seeds per fruit 240.4 288.3grams per 1000 seeds 8.5 g 7.6 g color yellow yellow 8. Anthocyanincoloration hypcotyl moderate moderate stem weak weak nodes moderatemoderate intensity of anthocyanin coloration strong medium to strong ofnodes on stem leaf weak absent pedicel absent absent calyx absent absentanther present present fruit absent absentThese are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Othervalues that are substantially equivalent are within the scope of theinvention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of LineSBYXD11-0002 CHARACTERISTIC SBYXD11-0002 Bentley 1. Species C. annuum C.annuum 2. Maturity (in region of best adaptability) days fromtransplanting until 92 82 mature green stage days from transplantinguntil 109 108 mature red or yellow stage days from direct seeding until111 101 mature green stage days from direct seeding until 128 127 maturered or yellow stage beginning of flowering (first flower medium early onsecond flowering node) time of maturity medium medium 3. Plant plantheight 160.9 cm 123.6 cm plant width 35.3 cm 39.6 cm length of stem fromcotyledon to 28.0 cm 27.7 cm first flower length of the third internode(from 121.3 mm 111.3 mm soil surface) length of stem long long shortenedinternode (upper part) absent absent length of internode (primary sidemedium medium shoots) stem, hairiness of nodes absent or very weakabsent or very weak to weak height medium short basal branches none nonebranch flexibility willowy willowy stem strength (breakage resistance)intermediate intermediate 4. Leaf length of blade medium long width114.9 mm 120.3 mm length 217.7 mm 231.8 mm petiole length 69.0 mm 77.2mm color dark green dark green color (RHS Colour Chart value) N137aN137a intensity of green color very dark dark to very dark mature leafshape ovate ovate leaf and stem pubescence light light undulation ofmargin very weak medium blistering weak very weak profile in crosssection moderately convex moderately concave glossiness strong strong 5.Flower peduncle attitude erect/semi-drooping erect/semi-drooping flowersper leaf axil 1 1 calyx lobes 7.0 8.0 petals 7.0 6.0 diameter 26.4 mm28.7 mm corolla color white white corolla throat markings yellow yellowanther color purple purple style length same as stamen same as stamenself-incompatibility absent absent 6. Fruit group Bell Bell (Yolo WonderL.) (Yolo Wonder L.) color (before maturity) green green intensity ofcolor (before maturity) medium to dark dark immature fruit color mediumgreen dark green immature fruit color (RHS Colour 141a 141a Chart value)attitude/position drooping/pendent drooping/pendent length short shortdiameter broad broad ratio length/diameter medium medium calyx diameter34.5 mm 33.9 mm fruit length 85.3 mm 96.6 mm fruit diameter at calyxattachment 86.6 mm 82.9 mm fruit diameter at mid-point 84.7 mm 82.7 mmflesh thickness at mid-point 8.2 mm 8.2 mm average number of fruits perplant 7.9 7.3 % large fruits 33.3% (weight 86.7% (weight range: >360 g)range: >250 g) % medium fruits 66.7% (weight 13.3% (weight range:250-360 g) range: 250-360 g) % small fruits 0.0% (weight range: 0.0%(weight range: <250 g) <250 g) average fruit weight 245.3 g 277.6 gfruit shape (longitudinal section) square square fruit shape (crosssection, at level of quadrangular quadrangular placenta) sinuation ofpericarp at basal part weak weak sinuation of pericarp excluding weakweak basal part texture of surface smooth or very smooth or veryslightly wrinkled slightly wrinkled surface smoothness smooth smoothcolor (at maturity) yellow yellow intensity of color (at maturity)medium to dark medium to dark mature fruit color orange-yelloworange-yellow mature fruit color (RHS Colour 14a 14a Chart value)glossiness strong medium to strong stalk cavity present present depth ofstalk cavity medium medium pedicel length 80.0 mm 63.4 mm pedicelthickness 10.8 mm 12.0 mm pedicel shape curved curved pedicel cavitypresent present depth of pedicel cavity 13.5 mm 17.3 mm stalk lengthvery long long stalk thickness medium medium base shape cupped cuppedapex shape blunt blunt shape of apex very depressed moderately depressedshape Bell Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) (Yolo Wonder L.) set concentratedconcentrated depth of interloculary grooves medium shallow to mediumthickness of flesh thin thin calyx aspect non- non- enveloping/saucerenveloping/saucer- shaped shaped pungency sweet sweet capsaicin inplacenta absent absent flavor mild pepper flavor mild pepper flavorglossiness shiny shiny 7. Seed seed cavity length 59.3 mm 74.3 mm seedcavity diameter 71.9 mm 69.6 mm placenta length 24.2 mm 24.0 mm numberof seeds per fruit 230.5 288.3 grams per 1000 seeds 8.9 g 7.6 g coloryellow yellow 8. Anthocyanin coloration hypcotyl moderate moderate stemweak weak nodes moderate moderate intensity of anthocyanin colorationstrong medium to strong of nodes leaf weak absent pedicel absent absentcalyx absent absent anther present present fruit absent absentThese are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Othervalues that are substantially equivalent are within the scope of theinvention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of LineSBYXD12-0029 CHARACTERISTIC SBYXD12-0029 Bentley 1. Species C. annuum C.annuum 2. Maturity (in region of best adaptability) days fromtransplanting until 42 36 mature green stage days from transplantinguntil 65 61 mature red or yellow stage days from direct seeding until105 99 mature green stage days from direct seeding until 128 124 maturered or yellow stage beginning of flowering (first flower medium mediumon second flowering node) time of maturity medium medium 3. Plant plantheight 143.7 cm 115.6 cm length of stem from cotyledon to 20.9 cm 20.3cm first flower length of the third internode (from 80 mm 83.7 mm soilsurface) length of stem medium medium shortened internode (upper part)absent absent length of internode (primary side medium/long mediumshoots) stem, hairiness of nodes medium absent or very weak height tallmedium basal branches none none branch flexibility rigid willowy stemstrength (breakage resistance) strong intermediate 4. Leaf length ofblade long medium width of blade broad medium width 135.2 mm 114.6 mmlength 228.1 mm 196.5 mm petiole length 111.1 mm 103.2 mm color darkgreen dark green color (RHS Colour Chart value) N137A N137A intensity ofgreen color dark dark/very dark mature leaf shape ovate ovate leaf andstem pubescence light light undulation of margin medium strongblistering medium weak profile in cross section moderately convexmoderately concave glossiness medium strong 5. Flower peduncle attitudeerect semi-drooping flowers per leaf axil 1 1 calyx lobes 7.7 6.5 petals6.8 6.2 diameter 34.1 mm 31.0 mm corolla color white white corollathroat markings greenish greenish anther color purple purple stylelength exceeds stamen same as stamen self-incompatibility absent absent6. Fruit group Bell Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) (Yolo Wonder L.) color (beforematurity) green green intensity of color (before maturity) medium/darkmedium/dark immature fruit color medium green medium green immaturefruit color (RHS Colour 146a 146a+ Chart value) attitude/positionhorizontal drooping/pendent length short short diameter broad broadratio length/diameter medium medium calyx diameter 33.9 mm 32.3 mm fruitlength 91.6 mm 93.6 mm fruit diameter at calyx attachment 83.4 mm 81.7mm fruit diameter at mid-point 79.6 mm 81.6 mm flesh thickness atmid-point 8.2 mm 8.1 mm average number of fruits per plant 11.7 11.1average fruit weight 234.8 g 247.2 g fruit shape (longitudinal section)square square fruit shape (cross section, at level of angular/triangularangular/triangular placenta) sinuation of pericarp at basal part absentor very weak absent or very weak sinuation of pericarp excluding absentor very weak absent or very weak basal part texture of surface smooth orvery smooth or very slightly wrinkled slightly wrinkled surfacesmoothness smooth smooth color (at maturity) yellow yellow intensity ofcolor (at maturity) medium medium/dark mature fruit color orange-yelloworange-yellow mature fruit color (RHS Colour 17a 17a Chart value)glossiness medium medium/strong stalk cavity present present depth ofstalk cavity shallow/medium medium pedicel length 50.2 mm 56.3 mmpedicel thickness 9.6 mm 11.8 mm pedicel shape curved straight pedicelcavity present present depth of pedicel cavity 14.3 mm 18.3 mm stalklength medium medium stalk thickness thin/medium medium base shapecupped cupped apex shape blunt blunt shape of apex moderately moderatelydepressed depressed shape Bell Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) (Yolo Wonder L.)set scattered concentrated depth of interloculary grooves mediumshallow/medium number of locules 4 (predominantly 4 (predominantly four)four) % fruits with one locule 0% 0% % fruits with two locules 0% 0% %fruits with three locules 20%  27%  % fruits with four locules 80%  73% % fruits with five or more locules 0% 0% average number of locules 4 4thickness of flesh medium medium calyx aspect non- non-enveloping/saucer- enveloping/saucer- shaped shaped pungency sweet sweetcapsaicin in placenta absent absent flavor mild pepper flavor mildpepper flavor glossiness shiny shiny 7. Seed cavity length 64.9 mm 70.9mm cavity diameter 72.4 mm 72.1 mm placenta length 27.9 mm 27.5 mmnumber of seeds per fruit 178.0 290.3 grams per 1000 seeds 9.4 g 7.6 gcolor yellow yellow 8. Anthocyanin coloration hypocotyl moderatemoderate stem weak weak nodes moderate weak intensity of anthocyanincoloration medium/strong medium/strong of nodes leaf weak weak pedicelabsent absent calyx absent absent anther present present fruit absentabsentThese are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Othervalues that are substantially equivalent are within the scope of theinvention.

C. Breeding Pepper Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof pepper hybrid DR2179PB involving crossing pepper lines SBYXD11-0002and SBYXD12-0029. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention,hybrid DR2179PB, line SBYXD11-0002, or line SBYXD12-0029 may be crossedwith itself or with any second plant. Such methods can be used forpropagation of hybrid DR2179PB and/or the pepper lines SBYXD11-0002 andSBYXD12-0029, or can be used to produce plants that are derived fromhybrid DR2179PB and/or the pepper lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029.Plants derived from hybrid DR2179PB and/or the pepper lines SBYXD11-0002and SBYXD12-0029 may be used, in certain embodiments, for thedevelopment of new pepper varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid DR2179PB followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well-known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g., colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may begrown into haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. Ineither case, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance withthe invention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with aplant of the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross withDR2179PB and/or pepper lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029 for thepurpose of developing novel pepper lines, it will typically be preferredto choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or moreselected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desiredcharacteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirabletraits may include, in specific embodiments, high seed yield, high seedgermination, seedling vigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance orresistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions.Consumer-driven traits, such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and tasteare other examples of traits that may be incorporated into new lines ofpepper plants developed by this invention.

D. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those pepper plants which are developed by a plantbreeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalpepper plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristicis termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers tothe fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcrossprotocol and therefore does not recur. The parental pepper plant towhich the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred isknown as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in thebackcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a pepper plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny pepper plants of a backcross in which a plantdescribed herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired traitfrom the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of pepper the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiology, 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an eliteline. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traitsinto an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the eliteline by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. Whenthis elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed withanother parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possibleto then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into thehybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as adisease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, eachlocus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may needto be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in thehybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined toconfer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of pepper plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent onthe phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

E. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by moleculargenetic methods. Such methods include, but are not limited to, variousplant transformation techniques and methods for site-specificrecombination, the use of which are well-known in the art and include,for example, the CRISPR-Cas system, zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), andtranscription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), among others.

In one embodiment of the invention, genetic transformation may be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well-known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recenttechnological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated genetransfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites inthe vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable ofexpressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described haveconvenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and apolyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptidecoding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed anddisarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985; U.S.Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature,312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986;Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants andexpression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl.Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985),including in monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591,1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990); a tandemlyduplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter(P-e35S); 1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol.,88:547, 1988); the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell,1:977, 1989); and the figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter(P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem;the cauliflower mosaic virus 19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform viruspromoter; a commelina yellow mottle virus promoter; and other plant DNAvirus promoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., PlantPhysiol., 88:965, 1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter,Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter,Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-bindingprotein promoter, Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones,such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4)wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5)chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It mayalso be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal etal., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988;Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a pepper plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a pepper plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be acatalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desiredendogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson and Shillito, Mol.Biotech., 7:125, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNAwhich expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is usefulfor the practice of the present invention.

F. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour chart value: The RHS ColourChart is a standardized reference which allows accurate identificationof any color. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue,brightness and saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS ColourChart by identifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g.,Yellow-Orange Group 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of a peppervariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/orby genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a pepper plant by transformation orsite-specific recombination.

G. Deposit Information

A deposit of pepper hybrid DR2179PB and inbred parent lines SBYXD11-0002and SBYXD12-0029, disclosed above and recited in the claims, has beenmade with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 UniversityBlvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of deposit for hybrid DR2179PBand inbred parent lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029 was Jul. 7, 2016.The accession numbers for those deposited seeds of pepper hybridDR2179PB and inbred parent lines SBYXD11-0002 and SBYXD12-0029 are ATCCAccession Nos. PTA-123293, PTA-123294, and PTA-123295, respectively.Upon issuance of a patent, all restrictions upon the deposits will beremoved, and the deposits are intended to meet all of the requirementsof 37 C.F.R. § 1.801-1.809. The deposits will be maintained in thedepository for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request,or for the effective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and willbe replaced if necessary during that period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pepper plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of pepper line SBYXD11-0002 or pepper line SBYXD12-0029,a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-123294 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-123295,respectively.
 2. A pepper seed that produces the plant of claim
 1. 3.The plant of claim 1, wherein the plant is a plant of pepper hybridDR2179PB, a sample of seed of said hybrid having been deposited underATCC Accession Number PTA-123293.
 4. The seed of claim 2, wherein theseed is a seed of pepper hybrid DR2179PB, a sample of seed of saidhybrid having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-123293. 5.The seed of claim 2, wherein the seed is a seed of pepper lineSBYXD11-0002 or pepper line SBYXD12-0029.
 6. A plant part of the plantof claim 1, wherein the plant part comprises a cell of said plant.
 7. Apepper plant having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the plant of claim
 1. 8. A tissue culture ofregenerable cells of the plant of claim 1, wherein at least one cell ofsaid tissue culture comprises at least a first set of chromosomes ofpepper line SBYXD11-0002 or pepper line SBYXD12-0029, a sample of seedof said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession NumberPTA-123294 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-123295 respectively.
 9. Amethod of vegetatively propagating the pepper plant of claim 1, themethod comprising the steps of: (a) collecting tissue capable of beingpropagated from the plant according to claim 1; and (b) propagating apepper plant from said tissue.
 10. A method of introducing a trait intoa pepper line, the method comprising: (a) utilizing as a recurrentparent a plant of pepper line SBYXD11-0002 or pepper line SBYXD12-0029by crossing a plant of pepper line SBYXD11-0002 or pepper lineSBYXD12-0029 with a donor pepper plant that comprises a trait to produceF₁ progeny, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited underATCC Accession Number PTA-123294 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-123295,respectively; (b) selecting an F₁ progeny that comprises the trait; (c)backcrossing the selected F₁ progeny with a plant of the same pepperline used as the recurrent parent in step (a) to produce backcrossprogeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny comprising the trait and thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the recurrent parentpepper line used in step (a); and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) threeor more times to produce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny.11. A pepper plant produced by the method of claim
 10. 12. A method ofproducing a pepper plant comprising an added trait, the methodcomprising introducing a transgene conferring the trait into a plantaccording to claim
 1. 13. A pepper plant produced by the method of claim12.
 14. A pepper plant comprising at least a first set of thechromosomes of pepper line SBYXD11-0002 or pepper line SBYXD12-0029, asample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-123294 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-123295, respectively,further comprising a transgene.
 15. The plant of claim 14, wherein thetransgene confers a trait selected from the group consisting of malesterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance,disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism, and modified proteinmetabolism.
 16. A pepper plant comprising at least a first set of thechromosomes of pepper line SBYXD11-0002 or pepper line SBYXD12-0029, asample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-123294 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-123295, respectively,further comprising a single locus conversion.
 17. The plant of claim 16,wherein the single locus conversion confers a trait selected from thegroup consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insectresistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acidmetabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydratemetabolism, and modified protein metabolism.
 18. A method for producinga seed of a pepper plant derived from at least one of pepper hybridDR2179PB, pepper line SBYXD11-0002, or pepper line SBYXD12-0029, themethod comprising the steps of: (a) crossing a pepper plant according toclaim 1 with itself or a second pepper plant; and (b) allowing seed of ahybrid DR2179PB, line SBYXD11-0002, or line SBYXD12-0029-derived pepperplant to form.
 19. A method of producing a seed of a hybrid DR2179PB,line SBYXD11-0002, or line SBYXD12-0029-derived pepper plant, the methodcomprising the steps of: (a) producing a hybrid DR2179PB, lineSBYXD11-0002, or line SBYXD12-0029-derived pepper plant from a seedproduced by crossing a pepper plant according to claim 1 with itself ora second pepper plant; and (b) crossing the hybrid DR2179PB, lineSBYXD11-0002, or line SBYXD12-0029-derived pepper plant with itself or adifferent pepper plant to obtain a seed of a further hybrid DR2179PB,line SBYXD11-0002, or line SBYXD12-0029-derived pepper plant.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, the method further comprising repeating saidproducing and crossing steps of (a) and (b) using a seed from said step(b) for producing a plant according to step (a) for at least onegeneration to produce a seed of an additional hybrid DR2179PB, lineSBYXD11-0002, or line SBYXD12-0029-derived pepper plant.
 21. A method ofproducing a pepper fruit, the method comprising: (a) obtaining the plantaccording to claim 1, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity;and (b) collecting a pepper fruit from the plant.
 22. The plant of claim1, wherein the plant is a plant of said pepper line SBYXD11-0002 orpepper line SBYXD12-0029.